The State will be ranked second in the country’s industrial map within the next two years, said Rural Industries Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy on Sunday.

Delivering the inaugural address at the second edition of Machine Tools and Engineering Expo (Access ’10), organised by the Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association (TANSTIA), he said that the inauguration of several new units in the State in the last few days indicate that investors favour Tamil Nadu over other states. He called upon the representatives of Chambers of Commerce and Federations to help the State to achieve its goal.

“In the next two years, we will be ranked second and it would take one more year to reach the top slot. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin are working towards this goal. Besides, about 20 promoters have started eyeing Tamil Nadu due to Telangana issue,” Mr. Palanisamy told The Hindu.

To encourage promoters to take up manufacturing in a big level in the State, he said “a high-level committee has sent a note to the Chief Minister that recommended moving all the units (expect liquor and tobacco products) to positive list. The Chief Minister will make a detailed announcement soon.”

Next edition

In his keynote address, P. Selvam, Additional Chief Secretary, MSME Department urged TANSTIA members to hold the next edition of Access in a grand scale and to get participants from foreign countries.

“Don’t conduct exhibitions for sake of availing the money from the Government. Make use of federations such as FIEO and FICCI to conduct exhibitions in foreign countries to popularise your products and its use. After examining your proposal, we will bear at least 50 per cent of the cost,” he said.

Around 100 firms are taking part in the three-day exhibition that has concurrent seminar and a buyer-seller meet at Chennai Trade Centre.

D. Gandhikumar, president, TANSTIA said “the numbers could have been more but for the economic slowdown. The next edition will be held during June 2011. Prior to that we will do marketing in other states to popularise this fair.”